Six Pakistan players, including Younis Khan, the captain, Shoaib Malik and Shoaib Akhtar, have been released from their IPL contracts. The others are Shahid Afridi, Salman Butt and Mohammed Hafeez, Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman, said on Thursday.

The ten Pakistan players had been barred by their government from taking part in the second IPL season starting on April 10 following a deterioration in cross-border relations after the Mumbai terror strikes. The franchises were subsequently given the option of continuing their contracts with the players.